Warning: This post is a little long. Hopefully the blog police won’t notice.
I’m 99.99% positive it’s harder to pitch a book than a baseball.
But I’ll also say this: I’m 100% positive it’s completely and totally possible to learn to pitch a book well.
I’m also 100% positive, unlike baseball, there’s no chance of getting hit in the face with a 5.25-ounce rubber core white ball during a pitch appointment…unless your agent or editor is in serious need of anger management classes.
Well, recently a writing friend sent me an email asking about my writing conference pitching experiences and suggesting I blog about them. And when someone offers me a blog topic, I run with it!
I’m not going to give lots of pitching advice here. You can find that all over the web. And if you’re going to ACFW in September, I highly recommend the My Book Therapy Pitch and Promotion Scrimmage. It’s such a confidence-builder!
Instead, I’m going to do what my writing friend suggested and tell you about my own experiences and what I learned from each:
Pitch 1…ACFW 2010/Editor
This is the only pitching experience I’ve ever had that I walked away from a bit discouraged. (I buoyed quickly when I found a Diet Coke with Lime in my purse.) The editor spent the bulk of the pitch talking. She didn’t like either of my main characters’ names. She didn’t like that a character died in the first scene. She didn’t like the name of the book. I honestly didn’t say much at all.
Lessons Learned: Sometimes things don’t click. They just don’t. I was disappointed, sure. But I survived. I remember my disappointment didn’t even last that long because I quickly realized, even if I had given the perfect pitch, there was already much in the story the editor didn’t care for. Que sera sera, right? It’s never helpful to pin your emotions on one appointment experience.
Pitch 2…ACFW 2010/Agent
This appointed rocked! It helps that this agent had already sampled my first few chapters pre-conference. She read my one-sheet and asked such cool questions, that I literally remember sort of bouncing in my seat as I spoke. Once again, I didn’t give my practiced pitch, but since we’d connected previously via email, she didn’t really need that. She requested my full. Her encouragement helped build my confidence, and I know it impacted future pitches!
Pitch 3…ACFW 2011/Editor
Okay, I’m going to make a confession: For this pitch and all the ones to follow, I brought two pitch sheets and was prepared to talk about both books. People may tell you not to do this. I’m certainly no expert and for goodness sake, if you read on an agent or editor’s blog not to pitch two books to him/her at once, obey! Or if you choose to rebel, don’t mention my name. 🙂
As for me, I went ahead and told this editor I had two books and couldn’t decide which to pitch. She asked me to tell her about both, so I did! She read my one-sheets and said she really liked both ideas.
However, one of my stories was quite similar to a book they already had coming out soon.So she opted to read the first few pages of the other one. She laughed as she read it–in a good way! And then asked great, great questions that, once again, drew out my excitement for the story. She had a concern about one of the angles in the story and we spent some time discussing it. In the end, she convinced me to nix that whole angle. Boy, was she right! She told me to contact her as soon as I’d made the change.
Lessons Learned: Listen. Listen. Listen. This editor gave me such wonderful advice. These are experts we’re talking to. Don’t stubbornly disregard their thoughts, but think hard if they challenge something in your story. I know my story is better off because of that editor’s advice. (And if I see her at ACFW this year, I’m going to thank her!)
Pitch 4…ACFW 2011/Agent
As soon as I sat down, this agent asked me to tell her about myself. So instead of launching right into my pitch, we chatted for a couple minutes about me, my career, my goals. Then I offered both one-sheets and gave my practiced pitches for both. The agent had a few questions, but not many, and said she’d like to see proposals for both.
Lessons Learned: Learn to read the person sitting across the table from you. Honestly, when I met with this agent, she seemed exhausted. After about 10 minutes, she asked for my proposals. I asked if she had any other questions, she said no and in between the lines, I heard “I’m dead on my feet!” When I gathered my stuff to leave before our 15 minutes were up, she gave me such a relieved smile! Be in tune, be aware. It makes a difference!
Pitches 5 and 6…Blue Ridge 2012/Editors
I pitched twice during my first-ever Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and I’m lumping them together because I had almost the exact same experience at both! Once again, I prepared to pitch two stories. Both editors listened to my premise for both stories. Both asked to keep my pitch sheets–one asked if she could use them to teach a class! And they requested my manuscripts. Also, the second editor asked if I had any questions for her–and I did. We had a great conversation about series vs. stand-alones and what publishers prefer.
Lessons Learned: Take care with the copy on your pitch sheets! Both of these editors mentioned they could “hear my voice” in the book blurbs on my sheets. Those book blurbs show that you can write tight, while summing up your story and injecting your voice into just a couple paragraphs. Also, be prepared to ask intelligent questions.
Now here’s an interesting note: Today I have an absolutely awesome agent–but I never pitched to her at a conference. 🙂
Yet, each one of those pitching experiences, I believe, prepared me more and more for the day I’d eventually sign with MacGregor Literary. And they taught me so much about talking intelligently about my books, professionalism around industry experts, being in tune with other people, listening and learning from expert feedback.
Whether or not you walk away from a pitch appointment with manuscript and proposal requests, you are going to walk away one step further to publication…you’ve made a connection, you’ve learned, you’ve taken a bold step! And that’s huge.
If you’re a writer, have you ever pitched a book? Do you have a pitching experience you’d like to share–book, baseball or otherwise? 🙂 Any questions and/or advice about pitching?
Comments 49
I love reading about your experiences with pitching. Having never done it, it scares me silly! 🙂
The good thing is, Sherrinda, agents and editors are people. 🙂 And they’ll generally totally understand if you’re nervous. Another great thing: it’s totally possible to fake confidence and poise. 🙂 Hehehe…
I loved pitching. I know, I’m crazy. But I loved it. To agents and editors. I think one of the most valuable aspects of this post is how YOU LEARNED from each experience. That’s how I went in. That’s how I came out. And I have to say I loved it!
~ Wendy
Haha, I wish I could say I love pitching. 🙂 Hehehe…but seriously, after I get through the first 20- or 30-seconds of awkwardness, I’ve found I can enjoy the experience too. There are so many cool agents and editors out there–and they’re fun, professional and there to help! So yeah, I’ve definitely walked away realizing I didn’t need to dread it so much. 🙂
I’ve made some neat friends pitching at conferences. None of them have bought my book…yet, but who knows? And I think that’s one important thing about pitching–making connections. It’s an opportunity to sit down one on one with an editor or agent and get to know them a little.
I just know one of them will buy your book soon, Pat!
You’re right–connections. That’s a huge benefit. And, too, friendships…some agents/editors may never be the ones we end up working with, but they can become friends. And that’s cool!
You’ve learned a lot along the way, Melissa!
I love pitching (waving at Wendy!)
I pitched my first book (non-fiction) with nothing more than an idea and a pitch sheet. No proposal in my back pocket. What I did have was a relationship with the editor because I’d written for her for months. She knew me and my work through my magazine articles — and this definitely helped. So, developing relationships is key to pitching.
Practicing pitches is also key, whether you launch right into your pitch or whether you set it aside and go with the flow of the appointment. (That’s why I like the MBT Scrimmage workshop before ACFW — great time to polish and practice!)
Yay for the Scrimmage! I love that it takes place the day before ACFW–perfect timing for helping people gear up for pitches. 🙂
You just gave me a good idea for how to help people on pitches. A lot of times we memorize a pitch (hook line and premise, etc) and we practice that over and over. But it would be great to get a friend and have them play the agent/editor. And you could practice various scenarios…some in which you give the pitch and others in which you, like you said, go with the flow…just to learn to be ready for anything. 🙂
I’m saving this post. Thanks for sharing it, Melissa. I’m pitching for the first time at ACFW this year. Truly, I’m not so nervous only because it’s on God’s shoulders, not mine. I need to do the learning and be ready, He needs to open the doors. Thanks for sharing your experiences, it’s a great post to help me do my part and feel a bit more prepared.
Yay, you have such a good attitude about it–knowing it’s on God’s shoulders and He’s the one to open doors. It’s so true. It takes a ton of weight off when we realize it’s not ALL up to us. 🙂
Pitching for the first time, as you know. Thankfully, I have a great CP who will offer moral support…and ice cream if it comes to that…right? 😉
Yes, yes to moral support AND ice cream! I say we get ice cream no matter what. 🙂 I love what Susan says above–that it’s not all up to us. And so that’s what I’m going to remind you through the whole thing. 🙂 🙂 God’s got such a good plan and this whole pitching thing is just a little piece of it. It’s so easy to think our whole career–our whole future!!–depends on this one pitch. But that’s not true…it depends on God! 🙂
Melissa, great words of advice! Thanks for sharing your experiences.
For me, pitching always leaves me with butterflies, but the more I realize that when I’m nervous it makes them uncomfortable too it helps me to be more calm. Definitely listen for great advice.
Don’t take a lack of a request to send materials as a failure. Sometimes its a blessing to realize you are not a fit for a particular agent or house.
Very good point, Michelle, on that last part. It’s good to recognize closed doors as blessings, actually. God knows which agent or which publisher is our very best fit.
Loved how you shared your learning experiences with your pitching experiences. I don’t get stressed out about pitching like some other writers do. I simply believe if I go in there and behave like a professional, but show passion for my story, the rest is up to God.
I pitched to one editor who asked me about the ending of my story. I was so passionate about my characters that I started to cry. I apologized profusely, but she was so gracious and said she loved my passion for my story. She requested a full–that opened the door to my publishing career.
I pitched book 2 to the same editor the next year, and she said, “You had me with your tagline.” Oh happy day! Great taglines are worth the effort.
I pitched to my dream agent who remembered my story from my previous pitching experience 2 years prior and she asked about that story and why I never sent it to her. She requested my full manuscript of the current story I was pitching, and that began my career building relationship with her.
Lisa, I loved that talking about your own book brought tears to your eyes. That is so sweet. Speaking of you and tears, I cried during Lakeside Family. 🙂 🙂
What a “genius” idea for a post! That blogger friend of yours must be nothing short of brilliant . . . and needy! 😉
Thank you, thank you, Melissa. I learned a lot.
FYI: Don’t give up on me. Still working on revising last few chapters so I can submit the pitch attempts in a more accurate and precise manner.
Hehehe, yes it is such a genius post idea. And I have to give full credit to…YOU. Thanks bunches for the idea. It was fun just to think back and remember each experience.
And I won’t give up on you. 🙂 I’m happy to help in any way. 🙂
ACFW 2011 venture into the writing world after writing my first manuscript. I was so freaked out before conference that I didn’t even prepare a pitch. Didn’t even read the threads on my newly acquired ACFW email loops. Honestly, all the talking about it only made me more freaked out. I made a one sheet and I knew my story. I had two agent appointments and I did my best. Both asked for a partial proposal– something which I really knew nothing about. So I pulled one together when I got home and within a week of sending them both out I had two agent contracts in my email box to choose from. It was a little crazy. 😀
How awesome that things happened so fast for you, Dawn! Woohoo!!
I just wanted to let everyone know that crazy things can happen when we put ourselves out on a limb. Even with as scary as they are, they ARE the best way to get an agent. 🙂
What a wealth of great advice in this post! I’ve always enjoyed my pitching experiences. The editors are so nice, and I think you hit a home run with the advice: be excited about your story!
Thanks, Sandra!! Yes, being excited about our stories shows in how we talk about them, doesn’t it?
Thanks for this great post, Melissa. I have never pitched, so your post gave me some great insight and words of encouragement.
~Melissa
Hi Melissa! I’m glad the post was helpful. Are you going to be pitching any time soon? Hope it goes spectacularly well, if so! 🙂
Lindsay, you offer so much insight from personal experience – how awesome! I pitched 4 different times during the 2011 Writing for the Soul conference and they were very similar to yours, except non-fiction. I know without a doubt that what you’ve shared here will help many writers for upcoming conference pitches. Thanks!
Thanks, Donna! I’m impressed that you pitched four times in one conference. That’s wonderful. Thanks for saying this post is helpful too. I was a little worried I rambled on too long. 🙂 I’ve wondered in the past how pitching non-fiction is different than fiction. Cool to hear the experiences were similar!
I will readily admit that I stink at pitching. In fact, I love cyber space so much more than face to face talking. lol I love your breakdowns of your pitches! Super interesting!
Thanks, Jessica! You are sooo not alone in thinking you stink at pitching. I love that so many agents and editors treat us with grace, though, yeah?
So great, Tagg! I loved reading about your experiences! You’ve given excellent advice! 🙂
Thanks, Jess! I missed you during your week off from blogging. Hehehe…stopping by your blog in just a minute. 🙂
Great post, Melissa.
I’m a nervous pitcher. Thanks for the advice on the book. I’ll check it out.
Nerves–that’s probably one of the things all of us have in common at writing conferences! 🙂
Love this post! Thank you for sharing your experiences. As the ACFW Conference quickly approaches, I love having this fresh look at pitching. I haven’t pitched, and I won’t be pitching formally at ACFW this year, but I know I’ll have lots of great opportunities to talk about my book and my writing there. Looking forward to learning more at the Pitch & Promotion Seminar with MBT!
Woohoo! I’m so glad you’re going to be at the P&P seminar and ACFW. Yay!
This post is PERFECT!!! Thank you, thank you Melissa!
Last year at ACFW, I treated my agent appointment like a mentor appointment and went into it telling her that I wasn’t there to formally pitch to her. So that was a great way of easing into it.
This year I’m SCARED SPITLESS. Probably because *I’m* putting too much expectation and pressure on myself, but I just really don’t want to sound like a bumbling idiot. I think what I fear the most is making a stupid mistake and giving the agent fodder for their “this happened to me, don’t repeat this” stories they pass on and become immortal. 😉
Oh, Casey, I have the scariness wears off before the conference. Look, unless you spend the whole pitch telling the agent God commands him/her to sign you OR you sneeze in the person’s face OR argue with everything they say, I hardly think you’ll be fodder for an immortal story. 🙂
Also, you should let me know whenever your appointments end up being. I’ll pray with you beforehand! When people did that with me, it was sooo uplifting and encouraging!
Eek! I need to start working on my pitch for ACFW. Like you I’ve had good and bad experiences pitching, but I’ve learned from all of them.
Yay for being able to learn from all of them! 🙂
Such good advice! I know it varies some by appointment, but I plan to have 4 ready to pitch this year. One I pitched some last year but plan to pitch it to a couple of peeps I know haven’t seen and/or rejected it since ;). I have two others ready to go and one nearly so. I’m guessing which one I pitch first will depend on what that specific editor/agent is looking for…
Both of my pitches went very well last year – one proposal request and one rejection – but it was a very nice rejection and I felt like we had a good conversation regardless. Lunches went well too. Here’s praying this year goes even better :).
Er… not that I plan to actually pitch FOUR at any one appointment… I just plan to be ready to pitch any of the four… 😉
Sounds like you’ve already had some great pitching experiences under your belt, Carol. Praying with you that this year rocks!
And wow, if you DID try to pitch four at once, I’d have to be impressed. I thought I was rebel trying two at once. Haha. 🙂 But seriously, it’s awesome that you’ve got four books ready!
Melissa, loved this post! I’m going to try and adopt your ‘tude when I try pitching for the first time next month (my stomach is flip flopping just writing those words!). I’m so glad I get to sit in on the P&P seminar first!
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Love how you shared what you learned from each pitch. Realizing that an agent/editor may not click with my story and not take it personally will be key for me. Look for what I can learn. That’s my goal. 🙂
You can do it, you can do it, Jeanne! The P&P seminar is so great–it’s just the thing to help cement your pitch and build your confidence right before pitching. I’m excited I’ll get to see you at ACFW! (I’m assuming that’s where you’ll be pitching next month.)
Looking for what you can learn–that’s an awesome goal. 🙂
I’m excited to see you too! 🙂 Yes, ACFW. 🙂
Thanks so much for this post.
I’ve never pitched before, and I’m going to my first conference in Sept. So I’ll have 2 opportunities to pitch. Gulp.
I think I’ll bring some M&Ms in case I can’t find ice cream.
Thanks!
I’m not going to ACFW this year, since A) we have no money, and B) I just spend what we thought we had on a road trip doing book research. Heh.
I am going to query before ACFW though, so I need to get my pitch/proposal/begging session together.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences! I’m heading to my first conference at ACFW and I’m more than a little nervous about those appointments!
Great advice here, Melissa! No matter how the meeting turns out, I always try to remember that they’re people, and I approach them as I would anyone else–by first asking how they’re doing, introducing myself, etc., before I jump into the pitch. I’d like to think that helps my cause when I ask, “Would you like to see the manuscript?” 🙂